AZ: Open Carry in Bullhead City Gun Shop, McDonald's

Gun Watch ^ | 25 May, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

I was traveling up Arizona highway 95 from Yuma to Las Vegas to take care of some business.  I follow 95 through Bullhead City, to avoid crossing a little, but inconvenient, strip of California.   Just outside the southern city limits of Bullhead city, there is a gun shop, N.P. Gun Sales, on the east side of the highway.  I was looking for some 16 gauge buckshot loads, which are not that easy to come by.  It was a good excuse to check out the store.  The first thing that I noticed as I approached the door, was this sign.

As I was openly carrying a Glock 17, in a holster, the sign seemed reasonable and prudent.   Neil, the proprietor, was busy with some customers that were purchasing a suppressor when I came in, but attended to me as soon as he was able.   He did not have 16 gauge buckshot in the store, but said that he could order them.  When I told him that I was heading to Las Vegas, he said that I could probably find them there.  It was a nice stop, and I expect to stop again on the way back.

A few minutes later, after crossing the city limits, I stopped at a McDonald's to grab a bite.  While I was standing in line, a man approached me and thanked me for open carrying.

He said that this is why he had moved to Arizona from California, and that he was very glad to see that people actually exercised their Constitutional freedoms here.  He introduced me to his two sons.  I took their picture outside, where a shower had just wet the parking lot.  People have thanked me before, and it was obvious that this sign of freedom meant a lot to him.

The symbolism of open carry is something that not many people talk about, but it is clear that open carry is strong, effective, symbolic, political speech.   It shouts out "There are limits on government power!"

That statement is a powerful reason to openly carry.  It sends a strong message that encourages the friends of limited government, and dismays those who want an increasing powerful nanny state to control every aspect of our lives.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch 

[marktwain]

Open Carry is strong, symbolic, political, speech.

[Inyo-Mono]

I can’t find 16 gauge buckshot anywhere these days.

[Norm Lenhart]

Home sweet home.

[marktwain]

I ordered some online, but when the order arrived, there was no 16 gauge buckshot in the order, nor was I charged for it...

[Tijeras_Slim]

I bought up every box in Albuquerque during the first “ammo run”. Some had been on the shelves so long it was still priced $2.99/box.

I have a bandoleer of the stuff, 55 rounds, all Federal. I call them “Purple People Eaters”.

Huge fan of the 16 gauge. Have at least 9 of the things.

Have some 16 gauge gun porn.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2947889/posts

[Inyo-Mono]

16 ga is hard to find these days, local hardware store used to sell them until new owners took over and got rid of their gun stuff.

[Norm Lenhart]

I feel your pain. .32 Special was about $80 a box last I checked. And ‘maybe’ available on order.

I miss shooting it. Gun sure looks good on the mantle though.

[Squantos]

16 ? Porn ?

[Former Proud Canadian]

Free speech? Yes. I also think it helps deter criminal activity within sight.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I pretty much online order all my 16 gauge, unless some old stuff wanders into a local shop.

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/Fiocchi-16ga-GT-Ammunition/productinfo/36516GT/

This is the stuff for target use. About the only one with a real brass base (not plated steel) so it never hangs up in repeaters.

I shook the bushes at all my favorite sites, and there’s no buckshot to be found.

[Tijeras_Slim]

16 will get you 20... or at least what we said back in the day.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Did you see my Revolver porn thread?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3290608/posts

[spintreebob]

Good story. Someone gave my daughter a bumper sticker which she put on the back of her red car, above the license plate:

“The right that secures all others”.

Putting on that bumper sticker, she got more thumbs up and friendly smiles and fewer traffic tickets. (Red car is a ticket magnet.) When I drove the car I also got the thumbs up.

Then she was hit in the rear. The body shop took off the bumper sticker. Now we no longer get thumbs up. My daughter gets tickets again and I haven’t explained why.

Neither one of us has a gun or the slightest idea how to use one.

[Inyo-Mono]

Great thread! I own a bunch of revolvers. Love ‘em.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’m mostly a Smith fan, pre-war and up to about 1965. Got a couple newer ones I couldn’t resist like a 696.

[Lurker]

I’ve got an old bolt action 16 with a variable choke which belonged to my grandfather. It’s J C Riggins IIRC. Haven’t fire it in years but I can’t bring myself to part with it.

L

[COBOL2Java]

You ever get any stupid Californicans enter an Arizonan fast food place of business and openly complain about the open carry customers?

[Tijeras_Slim]

As a legacy gun it’s priceless. Those old bolt guns don’t bring much. J.C. Higgins was a Sears named brand, the gun is likely a Mossberg.

[Lurker]

Higgins, that’s it. Thanks for the correction. I have the matching 20 gauge, too. That was grandmas gun but it doesn’t have the choke. The stock is cracked on the 20.

Grandpa and grandma put a lot of meat in the pot with those old guns.

Never knew they are most likely Mossbergs. Thanks.

L

[marktwain]

“You ever get any stupid Californicans enter an Arizonan fast food place of business and openly complain about the open carry customers?”

In Yuma, we are right on the border, but I have not experienced it.

I recall from about 18 years ago, my Daughter, then 16 was traveling about Yuma with a Glock 19 on her hip. I was with her when a Wal-Mart cashier asked if it was a real gun. I answered that it was, and that this was not California.

That is about as close to a negative comment from the public that I recall getting in the Yuma area.